UPDATE: Mohamed has been locked in ICE detention for more than seven months.

He has committed no crime.

Now he faces deportation to a country he has no connection to — where prison, torture, or even death may await him.

Please consider donating or sharing this fundraiser to help bring Mohamed home. Every contribution helps cover the legal filings, court costs, and bond that could finally secure his release.

Help Free Mohamed From ICE Detention – His Life Is at Risk

My name is Jeffrey, and I’m writing with a broken heart.

On August 4, 2025, a young man who I have mentored and who has become family was taken into ICE custody during what should have been a routine check-in at Federal Plaza in New York City.

Mohamed did nothing wrong. He has committed no crime. His only “offense” is being an immigrant.

He has now been in ICE detention for more than seven months — gravely ill, isolated from his family, and facing possible deportation to a country where prison, torture, or even death may await him.

Who Mohamed Is

Mohamed is 23 years old.

He fled Africa after a lifetime of neglect, abuse, and persecution. He lost both of his parents at a young age, and when he arrived in New York, he had no family.

We’ve celebrated birthdays and holidays together. We’ve built a real bond

Before his detention, Mohamed:

• Worked full-time at Amazon and paid taxes

• Studied for his GED (his final exam was scheduled the week he was detained)

• Volunteered three to four days a week feeding and helping unhoused New Yorkers

• Paid rent for his own apartment

• Never asked for public assistance

• Dreamed of becoming a nurse so he could care for others

He has no criminal history and followed every rule asked of him.

What Happened

On August 4th, Mohamed went to what should have been a routine immigration check-in at Federal Plaza in New York City.

Instead, ICE detained him.

Since then, his treatment has been harsh and destabilizing:

• During his first days of detention, Mohamed was confined with nearly 70 others with no beds, food, or water

• ICE repeatedly transferred him between facilities, eventually sending him to a remote detention center in western Pennsylvania — isolating him from family and counsel

• He is housed alongside individuals convicted of violent crimes despite having no criminal record

His asylum case was abruptly fast-tracked and repeatedly delayed as his health deteriorated.

His final hearing had been scheduled for January 30, 2026. But at the last moment, DHS filed a motion to deport him to Uganda — a country he has no connection to. The judge canceled the hearing indefinitely while considering motions explaining the grave danger he would face if deported there.

A Medical Crisis Hidden From Us

On September 26, 2025, Mohamed suffered a severe psychotic breakdown and was diagnosed with catatonic schizophrenia, leaving him largely unable to speak or walk.

ICE did not inform us.

We discovered his condition only after a surprise visit weeks later.

ICE then placed him in solitary confinement because of his illness — while denying adequate medical care, restricting access to food through commissary, and cutting off communication with me.

Solitary confinement is known to worsen severe mental illness. For Mohamed, it has been devastating.

The Current Legal Fight

On February 5, 2026, a federal court approved Mohamed’s habeas corpus petition — recognizing serious concerns about his prolonged detention and guaranteeing him a bond hearing.

However, three days later the immigration judge — who had previously ordered Mohamed deported to Uganda — held the bond hearing without notice on the same day we were already in court challenging that deportation order. The judge denied bond without giving a meaningful reason.

We are now:

• Appealing the deportation order to Uganda

• Filing a new habeas corpus petition in Pennsylvania seeking Mohamed’s release

This fight is far from over.

The Stakes Could Not Be Higher

If deported, Mohamed faces:

• Possible imprisonment, torture, or death

• Persecution for opposing government corruption

• Persecution for supporting LGBTQ equality

• Permanent separation from the only family he has

Every day Mohamed remains in detention puts his health and safety at risk.

How You Can Help

We are raising funds to cover:

• Mohamed’s bond if it is granted

• Legal expenses and court filings

• Travel and advocacy related to his case

Even small donations help move this fight forward.

If you cannot donate, sharing Mohamed’s story could help it reach someone who has the power to help him.

Please click “Share” and post this fundraiser to your timeline — the right person seeing this could change everything.

My Plea

I am fighting to get Mohamed released.

Nine months in detention is a lifetime for a young man who is sick and afraid. With your help, we can end this nightmare.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for standing with us.

With gratitude,

Jeffrey